UCLA Course Divisions Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a wide array of academic disciplines for undergraduate students. With over 140 majors, students can discover areas of study aligned with their interests, academic skills, and personal goals. These majors are primarily housed within the College of Letters and Science, which is further divided into four academic divisions: Humanities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. In addition to the College of Letters and Science, many majors are also available in the professional schools.

Undergraduate Majors at UCLA

UCLA provides a diverse selection of undergraduate majors, spanning various fields. These majors are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in their chosen area of study, while also encouraging critical thinking and creativity.

Here's a glimpse into the undergraduate majors offered at UCLA:

Humanities: African American Studies, African and Middle Eastern Studies, American Indian Studies, American Literature and Culture, Ancient Near East and Egyptology, Arabic, Art History, Asian American Studies, Asian Humanities, Asian Languages and Linguistics, Asian Religions, Asian Studies, Central and East European Languages and Cultures, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Chinese, Classical Civilization, Comparative Literature, Disability Studies, English, European Language and Transcultural Studies, European Studies, Gender Studies, Greek, Greek and Latin, History, Human Biology and Society (B.A.), Iranian Studies, Japanese, Jewish Studies, Korean, Labor Studies, Latin, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Linguistics and Anthropology, Linguistics and Asian Languages and Cultures, Linguistics and Computer Science, Linguistics and English, Linguistics and Philosophy, Linguistics and Psychology, Linguistics and Spanish, Linguistics, Applied, Middle Eastern Studies, Nordic Studies, Philosophy, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, Religion, Study of, Russian Language and Literature, Russian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, Spanish, Spanish and Community and Culture, Spanish and Linguistics, Spanish and Portuguese, Individual Field of Concentration (B.A./ B.S.)
Life Sciences: Biology (B.S.), Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Human Biology and Society (B.S.), Marine Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience, Physiological Science, Psychobiology,
Physical Sciences: Astrophysics, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences/Mathematics, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Chemistry/Materials Science, Climate Science, Cognitive Science, Computational Biology, Data Theory, Earth and Environmental Science, Environmental Science, Geology, Geology/Engineering Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics, Applied, Mathematics/Applied Science, Mathematics/Economics, Mathematics, Financial Actuarial, Mathematics for Teaching, Mathematics of Computation, Physics (B.A.), Physics (B.S.), Statistics and Data Science
Social Sciences: Anthropology (B.A.), Anthropology (B.S.), Business Economics, Communication, Economics, European Studies, Geography, Geography/Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Human Biology and Society (B.A.), Human Biology and Society (B.S.), International Development Studies, Linguistics and Anthropology, Linguistics and Asian Languages and Cultures, Linguistics and Computer Science, Linguistics and English, Linguistics and Philosophy, Linguistics and Psychology, Linguistics and Spanish, Linguistics, Applied, Mathematics/Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics and Data Science

Applicants to the College of Letters and Science are asked to select a major of choice, but can apply with an "undecided/undeclared" status.

Academic Divisions within the College of Letters and Science

The College of Letters and Science is the largest academic unit at UCLA, offering a broad range of disciplines. It is organized into four main divisions, each focusing on a distinct area of knowledge.

Humanities Division

The Humanities Division explores the human condition through the study of language, literature, history, philosophy, and the arts. It emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and creative expression. Majors in this division include English, History, Philosophy, and foreign languages.

Life Sciences Division

The Life Sciences Division focuses on the study of living organisms and their processes. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including biology, neuroscience, and physiology. Students in this division gain a deep understanding of the natural world and develop skills in scientific inquiry and research.

Physical Sciences Division

The Physical Sciences Division investigates the fundamental laws of nature through the study of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and earth sciences. It emphasizes quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and experimental techniques. Majors in this division include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Social Sciences Division

The Social Sciences Division examines human behavior and social structures through the study of economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology. It emphasizes critical analysis, research methods, and understanding of diverse cultures and societies.

Course Numbering System at UCLA

UCLA employs a specific course numbering system to classify undergraduate and graduate courses.

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Undergraduate Course Numbers

Undergraduate courses are classified into lower division and upper division.

Lower-division courses (numbered 1-99): These courses serve as introductions to a subject field. Designed for freshmen and sophomores, they can be taken by upper-division students for credit. These courses cannot be applied toward graduate degrees. Examples include Fiat Lux Freshman Seminars (numbered 19) and Sophomore Seminars (numbered 88).
Upper-division courses (numbered 100-199): These courses are available to students who have met the prerequisites, including lower-division courses in the subject or two years of college work. Graduate students may take 100-series courses toward master’s degree requirements with departmental approval. Examples include Upper-Division Seminars (numbered 190-194) and Upper-Division Tutorials (numbered 195-199).

Graduate Course Numbers

Graduate courses are numbered 200 and above and are open to graduate students who have completed undergraduate courses in the subject.

Courses numbered 200-299: These courses can fulfill the minimum graduate course requirement for any advanced degree. Undergraduate students may enroll in 200-series courses for unit credit toward a bachelor’s degree with department and instructor consent.
Courses numbered 300-399: These are professional courses or pre-professional experiences, not applicable toward requirements for graduate degrees.
Courses numbered 400-499: These courses are designed for professional programs leading to graduate degrees other than the M.A., M.S., and Ph.D.
Courses numbered 500-599: These individual study and research courses are reserved for advanced study and are not open to undergraduate students.

Other Course Numbering Conventions

Variable Topics: These courses do not have a specifically assigned course number, with the title indicating the variable nature of the topics.
Concurrent Courses (identified by a capital C): These are pairs of courses offered at two levels-undergraduate and graduate-at the same time and place with the same instructor, but with different work levels and performance standards.
Multiple-Listed Courses (identified by a capital M): These courses are offered jointly by more than one department.

Specific Course Examples

To illustrate the course divisions and numbering system, here are a few examples of math courses offered at UCLA:

Math 3A: This is the first course in the "fast" calculus sequence (3ABC), covering function concepts, linear and polynomial functions, inverse, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and trigonometric functions.
Math 31A: This course provides a solid introduction to differential calculus and integration in one variable, intended for students in engineering, the physical sciences, mathematics, and economics.
Math 115A: This is an introductory number theory course for freshmen and sophomores.

Additional Information

The UCLA General Catalog, published annually in PDF and HTML formats, provides the most current and officially approved courses and curricula.
The Schedule of Classes lists classes offered in a specific term.

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